Life-boat.



M. P. HOY.

LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION nun DEC. 30. 19.13.

Patented Apr. 1316.

5 SHEETS-SHEET L M. P. HOY.

LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED mac. :0. 19 13.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

5 SHEETSS H EET 2.

witnesses attorneys M. P. HOY.

LILFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, 19,11.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

5 $HEETSSHEET 3- m'torneus M P. HOY.

UFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30. 1913.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

5 SNEETS-SHEET 4.

Bnnentqr Wqr/l/ P Wa y.

witnesses attorneys M. P. HOY.

LIFE BOAT APPHCATION HLED DEC. 30. m3.

1 1 8 1 ,009 Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

' AHnrmgs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARIUS P. HOY, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

LIFE-BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 30, 1913. Serial No. 809,567.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARIns P. Hor, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma, in the county ofPierce and State of Washington, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Life-Boats; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to life boats, and the primary object of theinvention is to provide a life boat having a substantially cylindricalbody with auxiliary air-tight floating compartments so formed on thesides of the boat as to afford additional seats for occupants so thatthe boat may become a combined boat and raft for the use of a largenumber of persons.

A further object of the invention is to provide first a combined lifeboat and raft with a sliding keel weighted so as to keep the life boatnormally in a balanced state whether the boat be used as a life boat tocontain a few people or as a combined boat and raft to contain peopleinside and outside its hull.

A further objectof the invention is to provide compartments at both thebow and stern for the operators who will be sailors, leaving thepassengers amidship in what might be called the hold, thereby giving theoperators access to the anchor, the tiller, and the means for adjustingthe keel without interruption from passengers who are usually in a stateof high excitement. This feature of my invention involves the locationof the rudder controlling mechanism within one compartment, the anchorcontrolling mechanism in the other compartment, and the keel controllingmechanism in one of said compartments; whereas the propeller drivingmechanism may be located within the hold within reach of the passengersbeing saved.

Another object of the present invention is to employ a peculiar form ofbilge pump capable of being attached to the propeller actuatingmechanism, so that the driving of the latter will automatically removewater which may leak into the boat.

With these and other objects in view. the invention consists in certainconstriuztio'ns, combinations and arrangements of parts as will hehereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts: Figure'l is a top plan view of thecomplete boat; Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of the boat seen in Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation; Fig. 4 is a central horizontal sectionlooking down upon the floor of the vessel; Fig. 5 is a transversevertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a centralvertical longitudinal sectlonal view of the boat; Fig. 7 is a transversevertical section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a detail showinga portion of the folding hatch; Fig. 9 is a vertical section through onehalf of the hatch showmg the method of operating the folding,

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

hatch, the hatch being shown in folded position in dotted lines; Fig. 10is a sectional view through a portion of the boat showing a water-proofcloth or other flexible sack to be tied around the waist or neck of anobserver; Fig. 11 is a vertical central section through the upper end ofone of the air shafts showing the improved vent chamber; Fig. 12 is adetail taken through the lower section of the boat showing the mechanismfor driving the propeller; Fig. 13 is an enlarged vertical sectionalview through the lower portion of the vessel showing a means foroperating the bilge pump; and Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the boatshowing auxiliary means for driving the,- same.

The general aim of the present invbntion is to provide a life boatsomewhat similar to those at presentin use, but having added theretocertain improvements which materially increase the usefulness of suchboats, one means for improving the facilityof such boats being toaddair-tight compartments for supportingadditional weight, and in makingthose compartments of such construction aslwill increase the seatingcapacity of the boat byplacing them on the sides of the boat.

In order that the center of gravity of the entire boat when used as araft may not rise to a point dangerously near the water line, there isprovided a weighted keel adapted to be r .ised and lowered so that thecenter of gravity of the boat 'niay be lowered when weight is added tothe upper portion of the vessel when the latter is used as a raft.

Referring more particularly to the drawing it will be seen that the lifeboat forming the sul'iject-matter of the present invention, comprisescertain structur'e known to be old, to-wit. a cylindrical shell or hull1 having tapering ends 2 and 3. which carry front and rear bulkheads 4and 5, respectively, there being an auxiliary bulkhead 6 formed in theend 2. The stern end 3 is provided with airtight wall and deck 7 whichinclose an air compartment for assisting in floating the vessel throughwhich passes a tube 8 inclosing the rudder shaft 9 controlled by aninternal tiller 10 and an external tiller 10. Each end of the boatbeyond the bulkheads '1 and 5 constitutes an operators compartment sothat the outlook in the bow compartment and the helmsman in the sterncompartment are free from the confusion arising from the crowding ofpassengers amidship or into the hold. In order that each operator maysee outside of the hull of the boat, the deck of each compartment isprovided with a port 11 for observational purposes designed to be closedby a cover 12.

Hinged tothe bulkheads 4 and 5 are platforms 13 and 14 respectively,which may be swung to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6 tosupport an operator standing-- thereon, and it will be noted that theplatforms are under their respective observational ports 11 in theoperators compartments. 'hen not in use, these platforms may be swungout of place in a position readily understood.

As the compartments are small, the advantage of folding up the platformwhen not in use will be obvious. hen either operator is using theobservational port, he will turn down the platform and stand upon it sothat his body above the waist projects above the hull. At this time hemay use the outside tiller 10, whereas in bad weather or when he ishoused within the compartment he may use the inside tiller 10.

One of the features of the present invention is to add to the structurealready described, auxiliary floating air-tight compartments 15 securedalong the outside of the hull of the boat 1 and carried around its ends2 and 3, respectively, these compartments 15 as seen in Figs. 2, 5 and7, being so formed as to provide substantially horizontal tops 16 whichmay be used as seats for the convenience of those who cannot findseating space inside the boat. In order to secure the occupants of suchseats in place, there is provided a rail 17 on each side of the boat,supported in any suitable way, and 60 h aving secured at appropriateintervals thereto, straps 18 which may be suflicient to hold theoccupants in place when the boat rocks, due to the action of the waves.Thus it will be seen that the addition of extra floating compartments isaccompanied by the presentation of additional seating capacity withoutvery materially adding to the size of the boat or disturbing in anymaterial manner, the shape of the same.

Aside from the seats afforded by the tops of the compartments 15, thereare benches arranged. on the interior of the boat amidships or betweenthe operators compartments, such benches being shown as having tops 19and sides 20, said tops and sides being of considerable length so as toafiord suitable room for storing food and such other accessories as maybe desired in a lifeboat, the covers 19 being made removable to makemore readily accessible the stored food, etc. It will be noted thatthese interior seats are comparatively low in the boat, much more sothan the exterior seats formed by the compartments 15, and the obviousresult of this would be to throw the greater weight of the boat near thebottom of the same. .1 However, when persons are seated on the tops ofthe compartments 1!), the tendency will be to raise the center of theload, and in order to offset this, there is provided a weighted keel 21pivoted as at .22, to the bottom of the boat and having secured at oneend thereof a chain 23 which passes upwardly through a chain tube 24.and is trained around a Windlass 25 in the stern operators compartment.

Pivoted to the bottom of the boat, are guides 26 and 27 having pins 28which work in slots 29 formed in the keel. These guides serve to supportthe weight of the keel when the latteris in lowermost position, and willfold in a manner readily understood when the keel is raised by means ofthe chain 23. Thus. means is provided for keeping the center of weightof the boat at a point sufficiently below the water line to remove allpossibility of danger. The keel 21- may also be made of sufficient widthto become a centerboard which will offer resistance to the water so asto prevent'undue rocking of they boat, and it will be. understood thatby means of the chain and pulley it will be possible to adjust theposition of the keel. In connection with the weighted keel 21 it may bementioned here that the anchor for the boat shown generally at 30, hasthe stem 31 thereof received by a vertical tube and the latter alsoineloses the anchor chain 33 which leads upward to a windlass 34 withinthe bow operator's compartn'ient.

As illustrative of one convenient means of propelling the boat from apoint within the hold and by passengers sitting on the seats at eitherside, there is shown in Figs. (3 and 7, a grip bar the ends of which aresecured in rocking supports 36 pivoted at 37 in the bottom of the boat.The rear support is provided with a slot 38 which receives one end of alink 39 the other end of said link 39 being received by a slot 40 formedin a rocker arm 41, pivoted as at 42 to the boat at a pointsubstantially the same as shown in Fig. 7. The lower end of the rockerarm 41 has pivotally connected thereto as at 43 a pitman 44 connected toa crank pin 46 on a fly wheel 45 mounted in the hottom of the boat. Byreferring to Fig. 12. it

adjustment: Of course I do not wish to he.

limited to this particular driving mechanism, as it will be entirelypossible to use in this invention the form of driving mechanism shown inmy former Patent No. 663,172 issued December l. 1900. I prefer to locateit in the hold or amidships between the operators compartments so as togive the lookout and hehnsman freedom for their work.

As in the patent just referred to. there are provided in the bulkheadsdefining the eX treme ends of the boat, doors 51 and which closesuitable openings formed in the bulkheads, which openings afford convenient passageways between the central'compartment and the endcompartments.

In Figs. 1, 9 and 9 the hatchways are shown as comprising a foldinghatch 53 at the ends of which are provided sliding hatches comprisingdoors or plates 54 sliding in ways 56 conforming to the shape of theboat. 'hen these doors are movedaside it will be readily understood thatthe person being picked up or a person waiting to pass from the.exterior of the vessel to the interior may enter the boat withoutopening the hatches. Referring particularly to Fig. 9, it will be. seenthat the folding hatch, one half of which is shown in said figure.comprises a frame 57 provided with a groove 58. within which mo\ es oneendxof a rod ifil. It is to be understood from Fig. 1, that there isprovided one of these grooved frames 57 at each end of the foldinghatchway. The folding leaves of the hatch are shown at 60, and 61.formed of any suitable material, such as heavy canvas. sheet metal orother suitable material. The outer edge of the leaf 61 carries a shaft(32. the ends of which are journaled in the end frames 57. For thepurpose of folding the hatch there is provided at each end a turn rod(33 mounted in journals 64 secured to the top of the boat. theseturnrods 63 being actuated by means of handles 65.

By referring to Fig. 9. it will he seen that there is parallel to eachof the turn rods (33 a lifting rod (36 secured to and moving with theturn rods 63 by means of the end rods (37 which connect the parallelrods. It will be understood that when the handle 65 is thrown upwardlyand outwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1. the hatch will movefrom he position shown in full lines to the position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 9, the ends of the rod 59 sliding in the grooves 58 of theframes 57. while the leaves 60 and ()1 fold around the lifting: rod (36.For convenience each of the turn rods 33 is providcd with a haiidle (35.Thus it will be seen that by the simple turningof the. handle 65. thetop of the boat may be either thrown open or closed for the passage ofoccupants or for their protection.

The vent pipes in Fig. 11 areshown as single tubes at (38, extenddownwardly an appropriate distance into the top of the boat. and havesecured in the upper ends thereof collars 9 to which are secured funnels70. livotally mounted between opposite sides of the collar (39, is a pin71 surrounded by a coil spring 72. As shown in Fig. 11, there isextending upon each side of the pin 71, a damper 73 which has securedthereto a plate 74 extending to the otherside of the pin 71. and havingsecured thereto the pull cord 75, so that when said cord 75 is pulleddownwardly, the ha f of the damper on the other side. of the pin 71 frtmthe cord 75 will be thrown upwardly to the dotted position shown in Fig.11. Two cords 75 have been shown as connected to a common cord 76, whichpasses downwardly through each of the vent tubes, and may be secured inany desired manner so as to adjust the inflow of air.

As seen in Fig. 4 and 6, removable sections 77 cover compartments 78formed in the bottom of the boat'for the reception of drinking water,etc. The compartments 79 formed at the lower portion of each end of theboat may be used for storing purposes, or may be used as additionalfloating compartments.

The means for driving the bilge pump is shown in Fig. 13 Where the pumpcylinder 80 has the piston rod 81 thereof connected by means of link 82to a rocker arm 83, the up per end of which is provided with a handle'84- of suitable length. The rocker arm 83 may be actuated by means ofits own handle;

I or if desired, the handle may be in the form of a grip rod 84 extendedto enter an opening 85 formed in one ofthe rocking supports 36 of theupper propeller mechanism as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 13.

In order to protect the interior of the operators compartments fromwater when the covers 19 are removed from the ports 11 for observationalpurposes, there is provided a bag S5 formed of impervious flexiblematerial, and ha ving the lower end closed in any suitable manner abouteither the waist or the neck of the observer. The upper end of the bag85 may be secured in any suitable manner, as by rivets 86 to the wallsof the port 11 as seen in Fig. 10.

Rubber or rope may be provided on the wooden fenders 87 on the sides ofthe boat along the auxiliary compartments 15 for the usual purpose ofreducing shocks, I

As shown in Fig. ii, there is provided a pair of masts 88 and 89 whichreceive sails 90 and 91, respectively.

Vhat I claim is:

1. A life. boat and raft comprising a hull, internal and relatively lowseats along the sides of the hull, external and relatively high aircompartments also along said sides and having fiat tops forming seatsfor persons outside the hull, and a vertically movable and weightedkeel, the whole for use substantially as described.

2. A life boat and raft comprising a hull, relatively low internalseats, relatively high external air compartments having fiat topsforming seats, transverse bulkheads producing operators compartments atthe how and stern, the decks having observational openings for saidoperators, a vertically movable weighted keel, anchor-controllingmechanism leading into one of said compartments, and rudder and keel.controlling mechanisms both leading into the other compartment.

3. A life boat having a hull, seats along the sides of the same, thepropeller driving mechanism, rocking supports for actuating saidmechanism, and a grip bar connecting said supports and standing betweensaid seats; conibined with a pump, a rocker arm for actuating the same,a. handle on said arm, and means for connecting the handle with saidgrip bar.

4. A life boat having a hull, transverse bulkheads forming operatorscompartments at its ends and a passengers compartment amidships, seatsalong the sides of the lastnamed compartment, the propeller drivingmechanism, rocking supports for actuating said mechanism, and a grip barconnecting said supports and standing between said seats: combined witha pump, a rocker arm for actuating the same, a handle on said arm, andmeans for connecting the handle with said grip bar.

5. In a life boat having a hull, the combination with a transversebulkhead producing a helmsmans compartment near one end, the deck ofsaid compartment having a port, a cover removably closing said port, anda platform hinged to said bulkhead and adapted to he raised out of theway against it or to be lowered into serviceable position beneath saidport, of the steering mechanism including the rudder shaft, and tillersthereon inside said compartment and outside the hull. and both Withinreach of the helmsman.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARIUS P. HOY \Vitnesses JOHN BIEHN, M. KENNEDY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressinzthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

